What does Star Wars (and other stuff) have to do with maths?

What do Star Wars and Santa Claus have to do with maths? How much energy does a lightsaber use? Does Santa actually exist? Join us as we answer these questions and many more using basic maths and science, courtesy of Dr George Loumakis of Glasgow Caledonian University's School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment. Come along and discover why an analytical thought process can help us with aspects of our everyday lives – and have some fun along the way!*

*fun not guaranteed.

• View event on Facebook
• View event on Meetup
• View event on the Glasgow Skeptics website

About the speaker:

George is the author of several articles in Wookieepedia. Unfortunately this venture was not financially lucrative, so George is otherwise employed as a Lecturer and Researcher in the School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment at Glasgow Caledonian University. His teaching and research interests include Renewable Energy, Conventional Energy Sources, Energy in Buildings, Energy Sustainability, Life Cycle Analysis, Energy Systems and the Environment, Quantitative Research Methods and Public engagement and science communication. He teaches at various levels ranging from undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD and ProfDoc students and his background is in Physics, Renewable Energy Technology with a PhD in Solar Energy. He is leading the MSc in Environmental Management, the Power and Renewable Energy Systems group and currently supervises 7 PhD and 1 ProfDoc students. He is a senior fellow of the higher education academy (SFHEA), is involved in various public outreach events such as the Glasgow Science Festival, SmartSTEM, Primary Engineer, Café Scientifique and Explorathon and is also a science communicator with the STEM ambassador programme and an e-mentor for high school pupils.

Additional Details:

This is event is free to attend, although we will be asking for donations at the end of the talk. Participants are under no obligation whatsoever to donate, however please rest assured that the money we collect doesn't end up in anyone's pocket - it is used to fund our overhead costs, and travel/accommodation for our speakers who come from further afield.

Accessibility:

As per the policy of the Admiral Bar, access to the venue “can only be provided to patrons who are sufficiently mobile and capable of independently evacuating premises, or with the minimum of assistance”. Unfortunately, this leaves the basement inaccessible to most wheelchair users

Covid-19 Safety Guidelines:

The Admiral Bar staff will be taking contact details of attendees for track & trace.

We would encourage only those who are fully vaccinated to attend (or those with valid medical exemption).

We would also encourage taking a lateral flow test before attending.

Mask wearing is mandatory until you are seated, at which point they can be removed if desired (although we would encourage you to remain masked if possible).

Hand sanitizer and spare masks will be made available as you enter, although we would prefer if you brought your own mask at least.

Audience size has been limited to 60 in order to allow for acceptable distancing.

Seating will be spaced out as best as possible, and the Glasgow Skeptics team will be at hand to help rearrange as required depending on group size.

The Glasgow Skeptics team will wear masks at all times, except the MC for the night, who will remove their mask for doing the introductions, managing the Q&A etc.

The speaker will also wear a mask when not on stage.

Host or Publisher Glasgow Skeptics